Touch window

ABSTRACT

A touch window includes a substrate, a sensing electrode on the substrate, and a dummy electrode in the sensing electrode. The dummy electrode includes first to third dummy electrodes spaced apart from each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/614,048 filed on Feb. 4, 2015, which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No.10-2014-0013002, filed Feb. 5, 2014, whose entire disclosure isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The embodiment relates to a touch window.

2. Background

A touch panel, which performs an input function through the touch of animage displayed on a display device by an input device such as a styluspen or a finger, has been applied to various electronic appliances. Thetouch panel may be representatively classified into a resistive touchpanel and a capacitive touch panel. The resistive touch panel detectsthe position of a touch by detecting resistance variance occurringaccording to the connection between electrodes when pressure is appliedby the input device. The capacitive touch panel detects the position ofthe touch by detecting capacitance variation between the electrodes whenthe finger is touched on the touch panel. The capacitive touch panel hasbeen spotlighted in a small-model device by taking into considerationthe convenience in the manufacturing scheme and a sensing power.

Indium tin oxide (ITO), which is most widely used material for thetransparent electrode of the touch panel, is highly priced and may bephysically damaged when the substrate is curved and bent, so that theelectrode property is deteriorated. Therefore, the indium tin oxide(ITO) may not be suitable for a flexible device. In addition, when theITO is applied to a large-size touch panel, problems may be caused byhigh resistance.

In order to solve the problem, researches and studies on an alternativeelectrode part have been actively carried out. In particular, althoughthe substitute for ITO is formed by making the shape of the mesh usingmetallic materials. The mesh-pattern may cause the problems related tothe visibility or the conduction due to the short between the channels.

Accordingly, there is required a touch window having a novel structure,capable of solving the above problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a touch window according to theembodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a part A of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are sectional views to explain a process of forming asensing electrode according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 6 to 11 are views showing various types of touch windows.

FIGS. 12 to 17 are sectional views showing various types of touchdevices in which the touch window according to the embodiment isassembled with the display panel.

FIGS. 18 to 21 are views showing examples of a touch device employingthe touch window according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a touch window according to the embodimentmay include a substrate 100, a sensing electrode 200, a wire electrode300, and a dummy part 400. The substrate 100 may be rigid or flexible.For example, the substrate 100 may include glass or plastic. In detail,the substrate 100 may include chemically tempered glass, such as sodalime glass or aluminosilicate glass, plastic, such as polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) or polyimide (PI), or sapphire.

The sapphire has superior electric characteristics, such aspermittivity, so that a touch response speed may be remarkably increasedand a space touch such as hovering may be easily implemented. Inaddition, the sapphire has high surface strength so that the sapphire isapplicable to a cover substrate. In this case, the hovering refers to atechnology of recognizing coordinates even at a distance slightly spacedapart from a display.

In addition, a portion of the substrate 100 may be curved with a curvedsurface. In other words, a portion of the substrate 100 may have a flatsurface, and another portion of the substrate 100 may be curved with acurved surface. In detail, an end portion of the substrate 100 may becurved with a curved surface or may be curved or bent with a surfacehaving a random curvature.

The substrate 100 may have an active region AA and an unactive region UAdefined therein. An image may be displayed in the active region AA. Theimage is not displayed in the unactive region UA provided at aperipheral portion of the active region AA.

The position of an input device or finger may be sensed in at least oneof the active region AA and the unactive region UA. If the input device,or a finger touches the touch window, the variation of capacitanceoccurs in the touched part by the input device, and the touched partsubject to the variation of the capacitance may be detected as a touchpoint.

The sensing electrode 200 may be provided on the active region AA of thesubstrate 100. The sensing electrode 200 may extend in one direction onthe active region AA of the substrate 100. Although FIG. 1 shows thatthe sensing electrode 200 extends in one direction on the substrate, theembodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the sensing electrode200 may extend in another direction crossing one direction. In addition,the sensing electrode 200 may include two types of sensing electrodeshaving a shape extending in one direction and a shape extending inanother direction.

For example, the sensing electrode 200 may include a transparentconductive material allowing electricity to flow without theinterruption of light transmission. For example, the sensing electrodemay include a metallic oxide, such as indium tin oxide, indium zincoxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, or titanium oxide.

The sensing electrode 200 may include nanowire, photosensitive nanowirefilm, carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, or conductive polymer. Thesensing electrode 200 may include various metals. For example, thesensing electrode 200 may include at least one of chromium (Cr), nickel(Ni), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), and thealloy thereof. The sensing electrode 200 may be formed in the shape of amesh. For example, the sensing electrode 200 may include a plurality ofsub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be arranged while crossingeach other in the shape of a mesh.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sensing electrode 200 may have a mesh line partLA and a mesh opening part OA between mesh lines by the sub-electrodescrossing each other in the shape of a mesh. In this case, the line widthof the mesh line part LA may be in the range of about 0.1 μm to about 10μm. If the line width of the mesh line part LA is less than about 0.1μm, the mesh line part LA is impossible in terms of a fabricationprocess. If the line width of the mesh line part LA exceeds about 10 μm,a sensing electrode pattern is recognized by an outside, so that thevisibility may be degraded. Preferably, the line width of the conductivepattern line may be in the range of 0.5 μm to 7 μm. More particularly,the line width of the conductive pattern line may be in the range of 1μm to 3.5 μm.

The mesh opening part OA may have various shapes. For example, the meshopening part OA may have a polygonal shape, such as a square shape, adiamond shape, a pentagon shape, or a hexagonal shape, or a circularshape. In addition, the mesh opening part OA may have a regular shape ora random shape.

As the sensing electrode 200 has the shape of a mesh, the pattern of thesensing electrode may not be viewed on the active region, for example adisplay region. In other words, even if the sensing electrode 200 isformed of metal, the pattern may be not viewed. In addition, even if thesensing electrode is applied to a large-size touch window, theresistance of the touch window may be lowered. The sensing electrode 200may be formed in the shape of a mesh through various schemes.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sensing electrode 200 according to theembodiment may include a mesh-shaped electrode formed by providing ametallic layer M on an entire surface of the substrate 100 and etchingthe metallic layer M in the shape of a mesh. For example, afterdepositing the metallic layer M including copper (Cu) on the entiresurface of the substrate 100 including polyether terephthalate, thecooper (Cu) layer is etched to form a copper metal mesh electrode havingthe shape of an embossed mesh.

Referring to FIG. 4, in order to form the sensing electrode 200according to the embodiment, after forming a resin layer (R) including aphotocurable resin or thermosetting resin layer on a substrate 100, anintaglio pattern P is formed in the shape of a mesh on the resin layerR, and a metallic paste MP may be filled in the intaglio pattern P. Inthis case, the intaglio pattern of the resin layer may be formed byimprinting a mold having an emboss pattern.

The metallic paste MP may include at least one of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag,Mo, and the alloy thereof. After filling the metallic paste MP in theintaglio pattern P having the shape of a mesh, the resultant structureis cured to form the metallic mesh electrode having the shape of theintaglio mesh.

Referring to FIG. 5, in order to form the sensing electrode 200, afterforming a resin layer (R) including a photocurable resin orthermosetting resin layer on a substrate 100, an emboss nano-pattern anda micro-pattern having the shape of a mesh are formed on the resin layerR. The metallic layer M including at least one of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag,Mo, and the alloy thereof may be formed on the resin layer through asputtering process.

The emboss pattern of the nano-pattern and the micro-pattern may beformed by imprinting a mold having an intaglio pattern. Thereafter, onlythe metallic layer formed on the nano-pattern is removed and only themetallic layer formed on the micro-pattern remains by etching themetallic layers formed on the nano-pattern and the micro-pattern, sothat the metallic electrode having the shape of a mesh may be formed.

When the metallic layers are etched, the difference in the etching ratebetween the metallic layers may be made due to the difference between acontact area of the nano-pattern P1 and the metallic layer and a contactarea of the micro-pattern P2 and the metallic layer. In other words,since the contact area of the micro-pattern and the metallic layer iswider than the contact area of the nano-pattern and the metallic layer,the electrode material layer formed on the micro-pattern is less etched.As the etching process is performed at the same etching rate, themetallic layer formed on the micro-pattern remains, and the metalliclayer formed on the nano-pattern P1 is completely etched and removed.Accordingly, the metallic electrode having the shape of an emboss meshhaving a micro-pattern may be formed on the substrate 100.

The sensing electrode of the touch window according to the embodimentmay include a mesh-shaped electrode including the metallic layer asshown in FIGS. 3 and 5 described above. Although not shown in drawings,the sensing electrode or the wire electrode may be formed by directlycoating nano-wires on the substrate 100 or provide a photosensitive baseincluding the nano-wire on the substrate 100.

The wire electrode 300 may be provided on the unactive region UA of thesubstrate 100. For example, the wire electrode 300 may be connected withthe sensing electrode 200 and provided on the unactive region UA of thesubstrate 100. The wire electrode 300 may include metal having superiorelectric conductivity. For example, the wire electrode 300 may include amaterial identical to or similar to that constituting theabove-described sensing electrode. A circuit board connected to the wireelectrode 300 may be additionally positioned on the unactive region UAof the substrate 100. Various types of printing circuit boards may beapplied to the circuit board. For example, a flexible printed circuitboard (FPCB) may be applied to the circuit board.

The dummy part 400 may be provided on the active region AA of thesubstrate 100. For example, the dummy part 400 may be interposed betweenthe sensing electrodes 200. The dummy part 400 may be interposed betweenthe sensing electrodes 200 while being spaced apart from the sensingelectrodes 200 by a predetermined distance.

Referring to FIG. 1, sensing electrodes extending in the same direction,for example a vertical direction, may be provided on the substrate 100.For example, the sensing electrode 200 may include a first sub-sensingelectrode 200 a extending in a first column direction, a secondsub-sensing electrode 200 b extending in a second column direction, athird sub-sensing electrode 200 c extending in a third column direction,a fourth sub-sensing electrode 200 d extending in a fourth columndirection, and a fifth sub-sensing electrode 200 e extending in a fifthcolumn direction.

The dummy part 400 may be interposed between the first sub-sensingelectrode 200 a and the second sub-sensing electrode 200 b, between thesecond sub-sensing electrode 200 b and the third sub-sensing electrode200 c, between the third sub-sensing electrode 200 c and the fourthsub-sensing electrode 200 d, and between the fourth sub-sensingelectrode 200 d and the fifth sub-sensing electrode 200 e.

Although FIG. 1 shows only a plurality of sensing electrodes extendingin a row direction, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The dummypart 400 may be interposed between the sensing electrodes extending in arow direction or may be interposed between the sensing electrodesextending in a row direction and the sensing electrodes extending in acolumn direction.

The dummy part 400 may include at least two dummy electrodes spacedapart from each other. In detail, the dummy part 400 may include a firstdummy electrode 410, a second dummy electrode 420, and a third dummyelectrode 4230. The first to third dummy electrodes 410 to 430 may bespaced apart from each other. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the dummypart 400 includes the first to third dummy electrodes, the embodiment isnot limited thereto, and the dummy part may further include a pluralityof dummy electrodes such as fourth and fifth dummy electrodes.

The first dummy electrode 410, the second dummy electrode 420, and thethird dummy electrode 430 may have the shape of a mesh the same as thatof the sensing electrode 200. The sensing electrode 200, the first dummyelectrode 410, the second dummy electrode 420, and the third dummyelectrode 430 are spaced apart from each other, and the electrodes inthe shape of the mesh may be shorted in the space.

The first dummy electrode 410, the second dummy electrode 420, and thethird dummy electrode 430 may be provided in shapes different form eachother. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the first dummy electrode 410has a diamond shape, the embodiment is not limited, but the first dummyelectrode 410 may have various shapes, such as a rectangular shape, atriangular shape, a circular shape, and a bar shape.

In addition, at least one of the first to third dummy electrodes 410 to430 may have a shape the same as or similarly to that of the sensingelectrode 200. At least one of the second and third dummy electrodes 420and 430 may surround the first dummy electrode 410. The second and thirddummy electrodes 420 and 430 may surround the first dummy electrode 410.At least one of the second and third dummy electrodes 420 and 430 isinterposed between the first dummy electrode 410 and the second sensingelectrode 200 while surrounding the first dummy electrode 410.

At least one of the second and third dummy electrodes 420 and 430 mayhave the shape of a bar including a bending part, but the embodiment isnot limited thereto. The first dummy electrode 410, the second dummyelectrode 420, and the third dummy electrode 430 may have mutuallycomplementary shapes.

The first dummy electrode 410, the second dummy electrode 420, and thethird dummy electrode 430 may have mutually different widths. The widthof the first dummy electrode 410 may be wider than the width of thesecond dummy electrode 420 and the width of the third dummy electrode430.

The width d1 of the first dummy electrode 410 may be about 5 mm or less.The width d1 of the first dummy electrode 410 may be in the range ofabout 2 mm to about 5 mm. If the width d1 of the first dummy electrode410 is out of the range of about 2 mm to about 5 mm, sensing electrodepatterns provided on the substrate can be recognized through a coverwindow, so that the visibility may be degraded.

At least one of the width d2 of the second dummy electrode 420 and thewidth d3 of the third dummy electrode 430 may be about 0.2 mm or less.At least one of the width d2 of the second dummy electrode 420 and thewidth d3 of the third dummy electrode 430 may be in the range of about0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm. The width d2 of the second dummy electrode 420may be equal to or different from the width d3 of the third dummyelectrode 430 within the above range.

If at least one of the width d2 of the second dummy electrode 420 andthe width d3 of the third dummy electrode 430 is out of the range ofabout 0.1 mm to about 0.2 mm, short occurs between the first dummyelectrode 410 and the sensing electrode 200, so that efficiency may bedegraded.

The first to third dummy electrodes 410 to 430 and the sensing electrode200 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Thedistance d4 between the first dummy electrode 410 and the sensingelectrode 200 may be about 0.3 mm or less. The distance d4 between thefirst dummy electrode 410 and the sensing electrode 200 may be in therange of about 0.15 mm to about 0.3 mm. If the distance d4 between thefirst dummy electrode 410 and the sensing electrode 200 is out of therange of about 0.15 mm to about 0.3 mm, the sensing electrode patternsprovided on the substrate may be recognized through the cover window, sothat the visibility may be degraded.

The distance d5 between the first dummy electrode 410 and at least oneof the second and third dummy electrodes 420 and 430 may be about 0.05mm or less. If the distance d5 between the first dummy electrode 410 andat least one of the second and third dummy electrodes 420 and 430 is outof the range of about 0.002 mm to about 0.05 mm, short may occur betweenthe first dummy electrode 410 and the sensing electrode 200, so thatefficiency may be degraded. The distance between the first dummyelectrode 410 and the second dummy electrode 420 may be equal to ordifferent from the distance between the first dummy electrode 410 andthe third dummy electrode 430 within the above range.

The distance d6 between at least one of the second and third dummyelectrodes 420 and 430 and the sensing electrode 200 may be about 0.05mm or less. For example, the distance d6 between the sensing electrode200 and at least one of the second and third dummy electrodes 420 and430 may be in the range of about 0.002 mm to about 0.05 mm. If thedistance d6 between the sensing electrode 200 and at least one of thesecond and third dummy electrodes 420 and 430 is out of the range ofabout 0.002 mm to about 0.05 mm, short may occur between the first dummyelectrode 410 and the sensing electrode 200, so that efficiency may bedegraded.

The sensing electrode 200 and the dummy part 400 provided on the activeregion AA of the substrate 100 may be provided within a predeterminedarea. The area of the sensing electrode 200 may be in the range of about40% to about 50% based on the whole area of the active region AA.

The area of the dummy part 400 may be in the range of about 50% to about60% based on the whole area of the active region AA. In other words, thesum of the areas of the first dummy electrode 310, the second dummyelectrode 420, and the third dummy electrode 430 may be in the range ofabout 50% to about 60% based on the whole area of the active region AA.The area of the sensing electrode 200 may be equal to or different fromthe area of the dummy part 400.

The sensing electrode 200 and the dummy part 400 are not provided on theactive region AA of the substrate 100, but an exposure region EA, whichexposes one surface of the substrate 100, may be provided on the activeregion AA of the substrate 100. An area of the substrate 100 in whichthe sensing electrode 200 and the dummy part 400 are not provided, thatis, the area of the exposure region EA may be about 10% or less based onthe whole area of the active region AA. For example, the area of theexposure region EA may be in the range of about 5% to about 10% based onthe whole area of the active region AA. The areas of the sensingelectrode 200, the dummy part 400, and the exposure region EA may be setby taking into consideration the visibility of the touch windowaccording to the embodiment and the short prevention of the touchwindow.

The touch window according to the embodiment includes a dummy electrodeon the active region of the substrate. In other words, the touch windowaccording to the embodiment includes a dummy electrode provided betweenthe sensing electrodes provided on the active region of the substrate.The dummy electrode may include the first dummy electrode interposedbetween the sensing electrodes, and the second and third dummyelectrodes interposed between the first dummy electrode and the sensingelectrode.

As the first dummy electrodes are provided between the sensingelectrodes, the sensing electrodes provided on the active region of thesubstrate can be prevented from being recognized from the outside. Inother words, the touch window according to the embodiment includes adummy electrode provided at an area without the sensing electrodes andhaving the shape of a mesh. Accordingly, the optical characteristics ofthe sensing electrode and the substrate are different from each other,so that the sensing electrode can be prevented from being recognizedfrom the outside. Therefore, the whole visibility of the touch windowcan be improved.

The touch window according to the embodiment may further include thesecond and third dummy electrodes between the first dummy electrode andthe sensing electrode. In other words, the touch window according to theembodiment further includes the second and third dummy electrodes spacedapart from the first dummy electrode and the sensing electrode.

The short between the sensing electrode and the dummy electrode can beprevented from being shorted due to a fine gap between the sensingelectrode and the dummy electrode. The visibility of the touch windowcan be improved by the first to third dummy electrodes. The reliabilityof the touch window can be also improved by the second and third dummyelectrodes.

Referring to FIG. 6, a touch window 10 according to the embodiment mayinclude a substrate 100 and first and second sensing electrodes 210 and220 provided on the substrate 100.

The substrate 100 may include a cover substrate. The substrate 100 isprovided on one surface thereof with the first and second sensingelectrodes 210 and 220 extending in directions different from eachother, and first and second wire electrodes 310 and 320 connected to thefirst and second sensing electrodes, respectively. The first and secondsensing electrodes may be insulated from each other on the same plane ofthe substrate 100. At least one of the first and second sensingelectrodes 210 and 220 may have the shape of a mesh, and may include theabove-described dummy parts. Since the dummy part is similar to thedummy part that has been described above, the details thereof will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 7, the touch window 10 according to the embodiment mayinclude first and second substrates 110 and 120, and the first sensingelectrode on the first substrate 110 and the second sensing electrode onthe second substrate 120.

The first substrate 110 is provided on one surface thereof with thefirst sensing electrode 210 extending in one direction and the firstwire electrode 310 connected with the first sensing electrode 210. Thesecond substrate 120 is provided on one surface thereof with the secondsensing electrode 220 extending in a direction different from onedirection and a second wire electrode 320 connected with the secondsensing electrode 220.

The first substrate 110 may include a cover substrate. The firstsubstrate 110 may be bonded to the second substrate 120 by an opticallyclear adhesive (OCA). At least one of the first and second sensingelectrodes 210 and 220 may have the shape of a mesh, and theabove-described dummy parts. Since the dummy part is similar to thedummy part that has been described above, the details thereof will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 8, the touch window 10 according to the embodiment mayinclude first and second substrates 110 and 120, and the first andsecond sensing electrodes 210 and 220 on the second substrate 120.

The second substrate 120 is provided on one surface thereof with thefirst and second sensing electrodes extending in mutually differentdirections. The first and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 may beinsulated from each other on the same plane. The first substrate 110 mayinclude a cover substrate. In addition, the first substrate 110 may bebonded to the second substrate 120 by an optically clear adhesive (OCA).

At least one of the first and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 mayhave the shape of a mesh, and the above-described dummy parts. Since thedummy part is similar to the dummy part that has been described above,the details thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9, the touch window 10 according to the embodiment mayinclude the first and second substrates 110 and 120, and the first andsecond sensing electrodes on the second substrate 120.

The second substrate 120 is provided on one surface thereof with thefirst sensing electrode 210 extending in one direction and the firstwire electrode 310 connected with the first sensing electrode 210. Thesecond substrate 120 is provided on another surface thereof, that is, asurface opposite to the one surface thereof with the second sensingelectrode 220 extending in a direction different from one direction andthe second wire electrode 320 connected with the second sensingelectrode 220.

The first substrate 110 may include a cover substrate. The firstsubstrate 110 may be bonded to the second substrate 120 by an opticallyclear adhesive (OCA). At least one of the first and second sensingelectrodes 210 and 220 may have the shape of a mesh, and theabove-described dummy parts. Since the dummy part is similar to thedummy part that has been described above, the details thereof will beomitted.

Referring to FIG. 10, the touch window 10 according to the embodimentmay include a first substrate 110, a second substrate 120, and a thirdsubstrate 130, and may include the first sensing electrode on the secondsubstrate 120 and the second sensing electrode on the third substrate130.

The second substrate 120 is provided on one surface thereof with thefirst sensing electrode 210 extending in one direction and a first wireelectrode 310 connected to the first sensing electrode 210. The thirdsubstrate 130 is provided on one surface thereof with the second sensingelectrode 220 extending in a direction different from the one directionand the second wire electrode 320 connected to the second sensingelectrode 220.

The first substrate 110 may include a cover substrate. The firstsubstrate 110, the second substrate 120, and the third substrate 130 maybe bonded to each other by an optically clear adhesive (OCA). At leastone of the first and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 may have theshape of a mesh, and the above-described dummy parts. Since the dummypart is similar to the dummy part that has been described above, thedetails thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 11, the touch window 10 according to the embodimentmay include a first substrate 110, a second substrate 120, and adielectric layer 500, and may include the first sensing electrode 210 onthe second substrate 120 and the second sensing electrode 220 on thedielectric layer 500.

The second substrate 120 is provided on one surface thereof with thefirst sensing electrode 210 extending in one direction and a first wireelectrode 310 connected to the first sensing electrode 210. Thedielectric layer 500 is provided on one surface thereof with the secondsensing electrode 220 extending in a direction different from the onedirection and the second wire electrode 320 connected to the secondsensing electrode 220.

For example, the dielectric layer 500 may include an insulator groupincluding halogen compound of alkali metal or alkali earth metal, suchas LiF, KCl, CaF₂, or MgF₂, or fused silica, such as SiO₂, or SiNX; asemiconductor group including InP or InSb; transparent oxide used forsemiconductor or dielectric substance including In compound, such as ITOor IZO, mainly used for a transparent electrode, or transparent oxideused for semiconductor or dielectric substance, such as ZnOx, ZnS, ZnSe,TiOx, WOx, MoOx, or ReOx; an organic semiconductor group including Alq₃,NPB, TAPC, 2TNATA, CBP or Bphen; and a low-K material such assilsesquioxane or a derivative ((H—SiO_(3/2))n) thereof,methylsilsesquioxane (CH₃—SiO_(3/2))n), porous silica or porous silicadoped with fluorine or carbon atoms, porous zinc oxide (ZnOx),cyclized-perfluoropolymer (CYTOP) or a mixture thereof.

The dielectric layer 500 may have about 75% to about 99% of thetransmittance of a visible ray.

The thickness of the dielectric layer 500 may be thinner than thethicknesses of the first substrate 110 and/or the second substrate 120.The thickness of the dielectric layer 500 may be about 0.01 times toabout 0.1 times of the thickness of the first substrate 110 and/or thesecond substrate 120. For example, the thickness of the first substrate110 and/or the second substrate 120 may be about 0.1 mm, and thethickness of the dielectric layer 500 may be about 0.001 mm.

The touch window shown in FIG. 11 may have a thickness thinner than thethickness of a background structure in which two substrates areprovided. In particular, the dielectric layer may be substituted for onesubstrate and an adhesive layer, so that the touch window having a thinthickness can be ensured.

According to the related art, an OCA is additionally required betweensubstrates in a structure in which two substrates are stacked on eachother. However, according to the touch window, one substrate is used andthe sensing electrode is directly formed on the dielectric layer, sothat the OCA may be omitted. Therefore, the cost may be reduced, and thetouch window having a thin thickness is ensured through the dielectricso that the transmittance may be improved.

The first substrate 110 may be a cover substrate. At least one of thefirst and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 may have the shape of amesh, and may include the above-described dummy parts. Since the dummypart is similar to the dummy part that has been described above, thedetails thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a touch device according to anotherembodiment may include a touch window which is formed integrally with atouch panel 700. In other words, a substrate supporting at least onesensing electrode may be omitted. At least one sensing electrode may beformed on at least one surface of the display panel 700. The displaypanel 700 includes first and second substrates 701 and 702. That is, atleast one sensing electrode may be formed on at least one surface of thefirst or second substrate 701 or 702. When the display panel 700 is aliquid crystal panel, the display device may further include a backlightunit to provide light on the rear surface of the display panel 700.

When the display panel 700 is a liquid crystal display panel, thedisplay panel 700 may be formed in a structure where the first substrate701 including a thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixel electrode and thesecond substrate 702 including color filter layers are combined witheach other while interposing a liquid crystal layer therebetween.

The display panel 700 may be a liquid crystal display panel having a COT(color filter on transistor) structure in which the second substrate 702is combined with the first substrate 701 on which a thin filmtransistor, a color filter and a black matrix are formed while a liquidcrystal layer is interposed between the first and second substrates 701and 702. In other words, the thin film transistor may be formed on thefirst substrate 701, the protective layer may be formed on the thin filmtransistor, and the color filter layer may be formed on the protectivelayer. A pixel electrode making contact with the thin film transistor isformed on the first substrate 701. In order to improve an aperture rateand simplify a mask process, the black matrix may be omitted and acommon electrode may be formed to have the function of the black matrix.

When the display panel 700 is an organic light emitting device, thedisplay panel 700 includes a self light-emitting device which does notrequire any additional light source. The display panel 700 includes athin film transistor formed on the first substrate 701, and an organiclight-emitting device (OLED) making contact with the thin filmtransistor is formed. The OLED may include an anode, a cathode and anorganic light-emitting layer formed between the anode and the cathode.In addition, the display panel 700 may further include the secondsubstrate 702, which performs the function of an encapsulation substratefor encapsulation, on the OLED.

At least one sensing electrode may be formed on a top surface of anupper substrate. Although drawings show that the sensing electrode isformed on a top surface of the second substrate 702, if the firstsubstrate 701 serves as the upper substrate, at least one sensingelectrode may be formed on the top surface of the first substrate 701.

Referring to FIG. 12, the first sensing electrode 210 may be formed onthe top surface of the display panel 700. The first wire connected withthe first sensing electrode 210 may be formed. The touch substrate 105,on which the second sensing electrode 220 and the second wire areformed, may be formed on the display panel 700 on which the firstsensing electrode 210 is formed. A first adhesive layer 66 may be formedbetween the touch substrate 105 and the display panel 700.

Although the second sensing electrode 220 formed on the top surface ofthe touch substrate 105 and the cover substrate 400 provided on thetouch substrate while a second adhesive layer 67 is interposed betweenthe touch substrate 105 and the cover substrate 400 are shown in thedrawings, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The second sensingelectrode 220 may be formed on a rear surface of the touch substrate105. In this case, the touch substrate 105 may serve as the coversubstrate.

In other words, the embodiment is not limited to the drawings, butvarious configurations are possible if the first sensing electrode 210is formed on the top surface of the display panel 700, the touchsubstrate 105 to support the second sensing electrode 220 is provided onthe display panel 700, and the touch substrate 105 is combined with thedisplay panel 700.

The touch substrate 105 may be a polarizing plate. In other words, thesecond electrode 220 may be formed on a top or rear surface of thepolarizing plate. Accordingly, the second sensing electrode and thepolarizing plate may be formed integrally with each other.

A polarizing plate may be further provided separately from the touchsubstrate 105. In this case, the polarizing plate may be provided underthe touch substrate 105. For example, the polarizing plate may beinterposed between the touch substrate 105 and the display panel 700.The polarizing plate may be provided on the touch substrate 105.

The polarizing plate may be a linear polarizing plate or ananti-reflection polarizing plate. For example, when the display panel700 is a liquid crystal display panel, the polarizing plate may be alinear polarizing plate. When the display panel 700 is an organicelectroluminescent display panel, the polarizing plate may be ananti-reflection polarizing plate.

Referring to FIG. 13, the first and second sensing electrodes 210 and220 may be formed on the top surface of the display panel 700. The firstwire connected with the first sensing electrode 210 and the second wireconnected with the second sensing electrode 220 may be formed on the topsurface of the display panel 700. An insulating layer 600 may be formedon the first sensing electrode 210 to expose the second sensingelectrode 220. A bridge electrode 230 may be further formed on theinsulating layer 600 for the connection with the second sensingelectrodes 220.

The embodiment is not limited to the drawings. The first sensingelectrode 210 and the first and second wires may be formed on the topsurface of the display panel 700, and the insulating layer may be formedon the first sensing electrode 210 and the first wire. The secondelectrode 220 may be formed on the insulating layer, and a connectingpart to connect the second sensing electrode 220 with the second may befurther included.

The first and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 and the first andsecond wires may be formed on the top surface of the display panel 700in the active region. The first and second sensing electrodes 210 and220 may be spaced apart from each other adjacent to each other. In otherwords, the insulating layer and the bridge electrode may be omitted. Theembodiment is not limited to the drawings, and various configurationsare possible if the first and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 areformed on the display panel 70 without any additional substrate tosupport the sensing electrodes.

The cover substrate 400 may be disposed on the display panel 700 whilean adhesive layer 68 is interposed between the cover substrate 400 andthe display panel 700. A polarizing plate may be provided between thedisplay panel 700 and the cover substrate 400. In the touch deviceaccording to the embodiment, at least one substrate to support thesensing electrode may be omitted. Accordingly, a thin and light touchdevice can be formed.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 17 a touch device according to the presentembodiment may include a touch window formed integrally with a displaypanel. In other words, a substrate to support at least one sensingelectrode may be omitted. All substrates to support sensing electrodesmay be omitted. A sensing electrode, which serves as a sensor providedin an active region to sense a touch, and a wire to apply an electricalsignal to the sensing electrode may be formed inside the display panel.In detail, at least one sensing electrode or at least one wire may beformed inside the display panel.

The display panel includes first and second substrates 701 and 702. Inthis case, at least one of the first and second sensing electrodes 210and 220 is interposed between the first and second substrates 701 and702. In other words, at least one sensing electrode may be formed on atleast one surface of the first or second substrate 701 or 702.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 16, the first and second sensing electrodes210 and 220 and the first and second wires may be provided between thefirst and second substrates 701 and 702. In other words, the first andsecond sensing electrodes 210 and 220 and the first and second wires maybe provided inside the display panel.

Referring to FIG. 14, the first sensing electrode 210 and the first wiremay be formed on the top surface of the first substrate 710 of thedisplay panel, and the second sensing electrode 220 and the second wiremay be formed on a rear surface of the second substrate 702. Referringto FIG. 15, the first and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 and thefirst and second wires may be formed on the top surface of the firstsubstrate 701. An insulating layer 620 may be formed between the firstand second sensing electrodes 210 and 220. Referring to FIG. 16, thefirst and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220 may be formed on therear surface of the second substrate 702. An insulating layer 630 may beformed between the first and second sensing electrodes 210 and 220.

Referring to FIG. 17, the first sensing electrode 210 and the first wiremay be formed between the first and second substrates 701 and 702. Thesecond sensing electrode 220 and the second wire may be formed on thetouch substrate 106. The touch substrate 106 may be provided on thedisplay panel including the first and second substrates 701 and 702. Inother words, the first sensing electrode 210 and the first wire may beprovided inside the display panel, and the second sensing electrode 220and the second wire may be disposed outside the display panel.

The first sensing electrode 210 and the first wire may be formed on thetop surface of the first substrate 701 or the rear surface of the secondsubstrate 702. The adhesive layer may be formed between the touchsubstrate 106 and the display panel. In this case, the touch substrate106 may serve as the cover substrate.

Although the configuration of forming the second sensing electrode 220on the rear surface of the touch substrate 106 is shown in the drawings,the embodiment is not limited thereto. The second sensing electrode 220may be formed on the top surface of the touch substrate 106, and thecover substrate may be further formed while being interposed between thetouch substrate 106 and the adhesive layer. In other words, theembodiment is not limited to the drawings, but various configurationsare possible if the first sensing electrode 210 and the first wire areprovided inside the display panel and the second electrode 220 and thesecond wire are disposed outside the display panel.

The touch substrate 106 may be a polarizing plate. That is, the secondsensing electrode 220 may be formed on the top or rear surface of thepolarizing plate, and the second sensing electrode may be formedintegrally with the polarizing plate. The polarizing plate may befurther provided without regard to the touch substrate 106. Thepolarizing plate may be disposed below the touch substrate 106. Forexample, the polarizing plate may be interposed between the touchsubstrate 106 and the display panel. The polarizing plate may bedisposed on the touch substrate 106.

When the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel and the sensingelectrode is formed on the top surface of the first substrate 701, thesensing electrode may be formed together with a thin film transistor(TFT) and a pixel electrode. In addition, when the sensing electrode isformed on the rear surface of the second substrate 702, a color filterlayer may be formed on the sensing electrode or the sensing electrodemay be formed on the color filter layer. When the display panel is anorganic light emitting device and the sensing electrode is formed on thetop surface of the first substrate 701, the sensing electrode may beformed together with a thin film transistor or an organic light emittingdevice.

In the touch device according to the embodiment, at least one substrateto support the sensing electrode may be omitted. Accordingly, a thin andlight touch device can be formed. In addition, the sensing electrode andthe wire are formed together with devices formed on the display panel,so that the manufacturing process can be simplified, and the cost can bereduced.

Hereinafter, examples of a touch device to which the touch windowaccording to the previous embodiment described above is applied will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 18 to 21.

Referring to FIG. 18, as an example of the touch device, a mobileterminal 1000 is shown. The mobile terminal 1000 may include an activeregion AA and an unactive region UA. A touch signal by the touch of thefinger is sensed in the active region AA, and an instruction iconpattern part and a logo may be formed in the unactive region.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 19, the touch window may include a flexibletouch window. Accordingly, the display device including the flexibletouch window may be a flexible touch device. Therefore, a user may curveor bend the touch device with the hand of the user.

Referring to FIG. 20, the touch window may be applied to a vehiclenavigation system as well as a mobile terminal. In addition, referringto FIG. 21, the touch panel may be applied to an inside of a vehicle. Inother words, the touch panel may be applied to various parts allowingthe application of the touch panel in the vehicle. Accordingly, thetouch window is applied to a dashboard as well as a PND (PersonalNavigation Display) so that a CID (Center Information Display) may beimplemented. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, but thetouch device may be used for various electronic products.

The embodiment provides a touch window having an improved reliability.

According to the embodiment, there is provided a touch window includinga substrate, a sensing electrode on the substrate, and a dummy electrodein the sensing electrode. The dummy electrode includes first to thirddummy electrodes spaced apart from each other.

The touch window according to the embodiment includes the dummyelectrode on an active region of the substrate. In other words, thetouch window includes the dummy electrode provided between the sensingelectrodes provided on the active region of the substrate.

The dummy electrode includes first to third dummy electrodes. In otherwords, the dummy electrode includes a first dummy electrode interposedbetween the sensing electrodes and the second and third dummy electrodesinterposed between the first dummy electrode and the sensing electrode.

The first dummy electrodes are provided between the sensing electrodesto prevent the sensing electrodes provided on the active region of thesubstrate from being viewed from the outside. In other words, accordingto the touch window of the embodiment, the dummy electrode is providedin the shape of a mesh in a region in which the sensing electrodes arenot provided. Therefore, the optical characteristics of the sensingelectrode and the substrate are different from each other, so that thesensing electrode can be prevented from being recognized from theoutside. Therefore, the whole visibility of the touch window can beimproved.

The touch window according to the embodiment further includes the secondand third dummy electrodes interposed between the first dummy electrodeand the sensing electrode. In other words, the touch window furtherincludes the second and third dummy electrodes spaced apart from both ofthe first dummy electrode and the sensing electrode.

The short between the sensing electrode and the dummy electrode can beprevented due to the fine gap between the sensing electrode and thedummy electrode.

According to the touch window of the embodiment, the reliability of thetouch window can be improved by the first to third dummy electrodes. Inaddition, the reliability of the touch window can be improved by thesecond and third dummy electrodes.

It will be understood that, when a layer (or film), a region, a pattern,or a structure is referred to as being “on” or “under” anothersubstrate, another layer (or film), another region, another pad, oranother pattern, it can be “directly” or “indirectly” on the othersubstrate, layer (or film), region, pad, or pattern, or one or moreintervening layers may also be present. Such a position of the layer hasbeen described with reference to the drawings.

When a part is connected to the other part, the parts are not onlydirectly connected to each other, but also electrically connected toeach other while interposing another part therebetween. In the followingdescription, when a predetermined part “includes” a predeterminedcomponent, the predetermined part does not exclude other components, butmay further include other components unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch window comprising: a substrate; a firstsensing electrode on the substrate, and formed monolithically in a firstdirection; a second sensing electrode on the substrate, and formedmonolithically in the first direction, wherein the second sensingelectrode is spaced apart from and is positioned adjacent to the firstsensing electrode; and a dummy electrode having a length and a widthprovided between the first sensing electrode and second sensingelectrode, wherein the dummy electrode is spaced apart from the firstsensing electrode and the second sensing electrode, wherein the dummyelectrode includes a first dummy electrode, a second dummy electrode anda third dummy electrode spaced apart from each other, wherein the firstdummy electrode is provided next to the second dummy electrode and thethird dummy electrode, wherein the second dummy electrode is providednext to the first sensing electrode and the first dummy electrode,wherein the third dummy electrode is provided next to the second sensingelectrode and the first dummy electrode, wherein the first dummyelectrode has a different shape than the second dummy electrode or thethird dummy electrode, wherein at least the second dummy electrode orthe third dummy electrode has a polygonal shape including a plurality ofinternal angles, and wherein said plurality of internal angles includesat least four obtuse angles, wherein said at least four obtuse angelsincludes at least two first obtuse angles in a range of 90° to 180° andat least two second obtuse angles in a range of 180° to 270°, andwherein at least one of the first sensing electrode or the secondsensing electrode or the at least one dummy electrode has a shape of amesh.
 2. The touch window of claim 1, wherein a side edge of at leastone of the second dummy electrode or the third dummy electrode thatfaces one of the first sensing electrode or second sensing electrode hasa first inflection point and second inflection point which change adirection of a line of the side edge.
 3. The touch window of claim 2,wherein a space between the second dummy electrode and the first sensingelectrode has a prescribed outline, wherein the prescribed outlinecorrespond to the line of the side edge of the second dummy electrodeand the first sensing electrode.
 4. The touch window of claim 1, whereinthe first sensing electrode, the second sensing electrode and the dummyelectrode are provided directly on a same plane, over a surface of thesubstrate.
 5. The touch window of claim 1, wherein the width of at leastone of the second dummy electrode or the third dummy electrode is in arange of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.
 6. The touch window of claim 5, wherein thefirst dummy electrode is spaced apart from at least one of the seconddummy electrode or the third dummy electrode in a range of 0.002 mm to0.05 mm.
 7. The touch window of claim 5, wherein one of the second dummyelectrode or the third dummy electrode is spaced apart from a closer oneof the first sensing electrode or the second sensing electrode in arange of 0.002 mm to 0.05 mm.
 8. The touch window of claim 1, whereinthe second dummy electrode and the third dummy electrode have a sameshape and the first dummy electrode has a different shape than thesecond dummy electrode and the third dummy electrode.
 9. The touchwindow of claim 8, wherein the first dummy electrode has hexagonal shapeand, wherein the second dummy electrode and the third dummy electrodehave bent shapes.
 10. The touch window of claim 1, wherein the substrateincludes a plurality of layers.
 11. The touch window of claim 1, whereinat least an area of the second dummy electrode or an area of the thirddummy electrode and an area of the first dummy are different.
 12. Thetouch window of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second dummyelectrode or the third dummy electrode has a prescribed shape includinga mid-portion and an end-portion, wherein the end-portion is bent fromthe mid-portion such that a length of the end-portion that protrudesfrom the mid-portion is shorter than a largest width of one of the firstsensing electrode or the second sensing electrode in a second directionwhich is perpendicular to the first direction.
 13. A touch windowcomprising: a substrate; a first sensing electrode on the substrate, andformed monolithically in a first direction; a second sensing electrodeon the substrate, and formed monolithically in the first direction,wherein the second sensing electrode is spaced apart from and ispositioned adjacent to the first sensing electrode; and a dummyelectrode having a length and a width provided between the first sensingelectrode and second sensing electrode, wherein the dummy electrode isspaced apart from the first sensing electrode and the second sensingelectrode, wherein the dummy electrode includes a first dummy electrode,a second dummy electrode and a third dummy electrode spaced apart fromeach other, wherein the first dummy electrode is provided next to thesecond dummy electrode and the third dummy electrode, wherein the seconddummy electrode is provided next to the first sensing electrode and thefirst dummy electrode, wherein the third dummy electrode is providednext to the second sensing electrode and the first dummy electrode,wherein the first dummy electrode has a different shape than the seconddummy electrode or the third dummy electrode, wherein a side edge of atleast one of the second dummy electrode or the third dummy electrodethat faces one of the first sensing electrode or second sensingelectrode has an inflection point which changes a direction of a line ofthe side edge, wherein a space between the second dummy electrode andthe first sensing electrode has a prescribed outline, wherein theprescribed outline correspond to the line of the side edge of the seconddummy electrode and the first sensing electrode, wherein at least thesecond dummy electrode or the third dummy electrode has a polygonalshape including a plurality of internal angles, and wherein saidplurality of internal angles includes at least four obtuse angles, andwherein said at least four obtuse angels includes at least two firstobtuse angles in a range of 90° to 180° and at least two second obtuseangles in a range of 180° to 270°, and wherein at least one of the firstsensing electrode or the second sensing electrode or the at least onedummy electrode has a shape of a mesh.
 14. The touch window of claim 13,wherein the inflection point includes a plurality of points.
 15. Thetouch window of claim 13, wherein the first sensing electrode, thesecond sensing electrode and the dummy electrode are provided directlyon a same plane, over a surface of the substrate.
 16. The touch windowof claim 13, wherein the width of at least one of the second dummyelectrode or the third dummy electrode is in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.2mm.
 17. The touch window of claim 16, wherein the first dummy electrodeis spaced apart from at least one of the second dummy electrode or thethird dummy electrode in a range of 0.002 mm to 0.05 mm.
 18. The touchwindow of claim 16, wherein one of the second dummy electrode or thethird dummy electrode is spaced apart from a closer one of the firstsensing electrode or the second sensing electrode in a range of 0.002 mmto 0.05 mm.
 19. The touch window of claim 13, wherein the second dummyelectrode and the third dummy electrode have a same shape and the firstdummy electrode has a different shape than the second dummy electrodeand the third dummy electrode.
 20. The touch window of claim 19, whereinthe first dummy electrode has hexagonal shape and, wherein the seconddummy electrode and the third dummy electrode have bent shapes.
 21. Thetouch window of claim 13, wherein the substrate includes a plurality oflayers.
 22. The touch window of claim 13, wherein at least an area ofthe second dummy electrode or an area of the third dummy electrode andan area of the first dummy are different.
 23. The touch window of claim13, wherein at least one of the second dummy electrode or the thirddummy electrode has a prescribed shape including a mid-portion and anend-portion, and wherein the end-portion is bent from the mid-portionsuch that a length of the end-portion that protrudes from themid-portion is shorter than a largest width of one of the first sensingelectrode or the second sensing electrode in a second direction which isperpendicular to the first direction.
 24. A display device comprising adisplay panel; a touch window on the display panel; and a polarizingplate on the display panel, wherein the display panel is an organicelectroluminescence light emitting device, wherein the display panelincludes a first substrate, wherein a thin film transistor and anorganic light-emitting device are formed on the first substrate, whereintouch window comprising: a substrate; a first sensing electrode on thesubstrate, and formed monolithically in a first direction; a secondsensing electrode on the substrate, and formed monolithically in thefirst direction, wherein the second sensing electrode is spaced apartfrom and is positioned adjacent to the first sensing electrode; and adummy electrode having a length and a width provided between the firstsensing electrode and second sensing electrode, wherein the dummyelectrode is spaced apart from the first sensing electrode and thesecond sensing electrode, wherein the dummy electrode includes a firstdummy electrode, a second dummy electrode and a third dummy electrodespaced apart from each other, wherein the first dummy electrode isprovided next to the second dummy electrode and the third dummyelectrode, wherein the second dummy electrode is provided next to thefirst sensing electrode and the first dummy electrode, wherein the thirddummy electrode is provided next to the second sensing electrode and thefirst dummy electrode, wherein the first dummy electrode has a differentshape than the second dummy electrode or the third dummy electrode,wherein at least the second dummy electrode or the third dummy electrodehas a polygonal shape including a plurality of internal angles, andwherein said plurality of internal angles includes at least four obtuseangles, wherein said at least four obtuse angels includes at least twofirst obtuse angles in a range of 90° to 180° and at least two secondobtuse angles in a range of 180° to 270°, and wherein at least one ofthe first sensing electrode or the second sensing electrode or the atleast one dummy electrode has a shape of a mesh.
 25. The display deviceof claim 24, wherein a side edge of at least one of the second dummyelectrode or the third dummy electrode that faces one of the firstsensing electrode or second sensing electrode has a first inflectionpoint and second inflection point which change a direction of a line ofthe side edge.
 26. The display device of claim 24, wherein a spacebetween the second dummy electrode and the first sensing electrode has aprescribed outline, wherein the prescribed outline correspond to theline of the side edge of the second dummy electrode and the firstsensing electrode.